Tom Thibodeau’s Surprising Pick For Best Point Guard

Point guard is by far the deepest position in the NBA, and many would argue that it is the most important position as well. Who does Chicago Bulls head coach, Tom Thibodeau, have as his best point guard in the league?

Who Ya Got?

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Bulls beat writer, KC Johnson, it sounds like Thibs picked his point guard.

Thibodeau said you could make a case for Chris Paul as best point guard in game.

First thought, why didn’t Thibs pick Derrick Rose as the possible best point guard in the NBA? But after thinking about it, Thibs does like to praise other players around the league, and who better to praise then one of the best point guards in the league in Chris Paul? When Rose was healthy and winning an MVP award, Rose was widely considered the best point guard in the NBA, as well as the third best player in the league behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. He even torched CP3 a time or two before. Check out the highlights of this game back in 2011 when Rose dropped 29 points and dished out 16 assists against CP3’s Clippers.

That Was Then, This Is Now

2011 was a long time ago, and two significant leg injuries later, it’s tough to call Rose the best point guard in the game these days. When talking Rose, the term “if healthy,” gets used so much, it might as well be his new first name. Here’s a look at a comparison between the two guards’ per game totals this season.

CP3 is clearly out playing Rose this season, but he also hasn’t come back from two signifcant injuries like Rose. Rose is not the best point guard in the league anymore, but we might singing a different tune by the end of the season if he gets healthy. When critics are asked who’s the best, you will often hear, CP3, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, or Stephen Curry receive that label.

Ranking The Best Point Guards

Before the 2014-15 NBA season began, Michael Burke of Slam Magazine ranked the best 20 point guards in the league. Here is what he had to say about Rose and CP3.

“Derrick Rose, to me, is the best point guard in the NBA. He’s the most athletic player in the league, outside of LeBron. He’s the only point guard since 2006 to win MVP. He’s had some of his best games against the league’s other elite point guards. But because Rose hasn’t seen NBA action in two-and-a-half years (not including the 10 games he played last season), I simply can’t bring myself to put him above the four players who are still to follow. But make no mistake: if Rose proves healthy this season, it won’t take much for him to regain his title as the best point guard in the world – or at least it won’t in my book.”

“Yes: Chris Paul, third. The third best point guard in the league, according to me. And, yes, I agree with you: He has the purest point guard skills in the NBA. But Paul is now entering his 10th NBA season and has still yet to play in a Conference Finals. Even with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and the great Doc Rivers on his side, CP3 couldn’t get past the second round this past May. Sorry, that’s inexcusable. The worst part for Paul? His title window is closing. Starting next spring, he needs to figure out how to be the same All-NBA point guard in the playoffs that he is in the regular season. Until he does that, he can’t crack the top-two at this position.”

To check out where the other point guards in the NBA stack up, click here.

Tonight’s Game

Too bad Rose will be sitting out tonight’s game agaisnt the Los Angeles Clippers. Fans all around the NBA would love to see these superstar point guards go at it again. With it being so early in the season, the Bulls are taking the cautious approach to Rose’s playing time.

Rose said there’s no reason to rush on such a deep team,”I’m trying to get back out there as quick as possible, but waiting until I’m 100%.”